2008-05-17 Today, Walter and I began a week's photography vacation in Wisconsin. We have arranged to meet Kip Knudson (a Crivitz, WI resident), and he has graciously offered to show us the botanical sights of the Dairy State -- hopefully some spring orchids. If I can keep our on-again-off-again internet connection, I hope to update the botanical show on a daily basis.

BTW, the Native Orchid Conference is planning its conference for 2009 in Wisconsin. The headquarters (I believe) will be in Green Bay.

Day 1: We arrived in Green Bay and drove to our time share (Fox Hills Resort) in Mishicot, WI. On the way. we passed a hillside covered with Trillium grandiflorum and other spring wildflowers.

Day 2: A bit more of the same -- just getting settled in and dodging the scattered showers.

Day 3: Olbrich Garden and the University of Wisconsin arboretum, both in Madison, Wisconsin.

Day 4: Bluff Creek Natural Area near Whitewater, Wisconsin, and Robert Cook Arboretum near Janesville, Wisconsin. The second Cyp. candidum area we visited, near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, had just been burned a week or so before our visit; therefore, no plants were found - What a bummer...

Day 5: A protected natural area near Crivitz, Wisconsin, and Carney Fen, just across the Wisconsin border in Michigan.

Day 6: Another 40-degree, windy, damp, overcast, day. This time, it is on an access road to Pictured Rocks, along the coast of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Looks like we were a week early. A few species were in bloom, but most were in bud. Next week will be quite lovely, with the Trillium grandiflorum, Trillium cuneaum, Erythroniam americanum, and other spring ephemerals in full bloom.

Day 7: Back to the Bluff Creek Cypripedium candidum site - the light was different (very overcast), and I wanted to see how it would affect the photography.

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